Use 4. Fix, then, your thoughts on the things which lie in a ten- dency towards the confirming of God's special providential presence wdth you. You have heard of the tenure of it, the means whereby it is procured and retained: these things I have spoken to in general before. Besides your own dependence on God, and comportment with his providence, the things incumbent on you are such as respect either persons or things.
(1.) For per sens, it is that Avhich I have minded you of before, and which I shall do whilst I have life and opportunity to speak to you, or any concerned in the government of this nation, in public or private ; because I know it is your life, your peace, your duty ; — and that is, that the end and aim of all your consultations be the pro- tection, encouragement, liberty of the seed of Jacob, the remnant, the hidden people, — those whom God hath owned, accepted, blessed, given his presence unto and amongst them. I plead not for their exaltation, promotion, preferment,^ — I know not what; but charge it as your duty, to take care that they be not trodden under foot, nor swallowed up, nor exposed to the rage and contempt of the men of the earth. It is not this or that party of them that I speak of, but the generation of them that seek the face of God ; whose cause alone it is ,and not [that] of any other men, or frame of things, that is, through the mighty power of God, triumphant in these nations. They
4-r2 GOrVs PRESENCE A PEOPLES PROSPERITY.
are to God as the apple of his eye ; and let their safety be so also to yon, and you will not foil of the presence of God.
(2.) For things, they are either, [1.] The things of God; or, [2.] Men : of each a word.
[1.] For the things of God, or the ])^d)lic 2)rofession of religion in the land, my time is too far spent for me to enter into a serious dis- course on the subject. Some things have of late been done, which, when envy, and anger, and disappointment shall cease to operate, the whole people of God in this nation will have cause to rejoice in.
Let it not be thought amiss, if I mind you of one part of the nation in especial : the example of the saints allows us a special regard to those of our own nation, our kinsfolks in the flesh. It is for Wales I speak, where the unhappiness of almost all men running into extremes, hath disadvantaged the advancement of the gospel and the progress of it, when we had great ground for the expectation of better things. Some are still zealous of the traditions of their fathers; and nothing, almost, will satisfy them, but their old road of beggarly readers in every paiish. Others, again, perhaps out of a good zeal, have hurried the people with violence beyond their prin- ciples,— and sometimes, it may be, beyond the tiiith; and, as Jacob said, over-driving the cattle and young ones has almost destroyed the whole flock. Between complaints on one side and the other, I fear — between misguided zeal and formality — the whole work is almost cast to the ground; — the business of Zion, as such, is scarce by an}^ cared for. The good Lord guide you to somewhat for its relief, that those who are godly may be encouraged, and those that need instruc- tion may not be neglected.
[2.] The things of man, or righteous administrations of justice in things relating to this present pilgi'image. These wheels, also, are you to set going. Many particulars lie before you, more will present themselves;- — troublesome times have always produced good laws; — your wisdom will be, to provide for good execution, that not only the generations to come, but the present, may eat of the fruit of your labours and travail.
SERMOJN^ XIL
THE GLORY AND INTEREST OF NATIONS PROFESSING THE GOSPEL.
PREFATORY NOTE.
A GHEAT event has occurred since the ]a«:t two sermons, comparatively cheerful and buoyant in their tone, were ]ireached. Oliver Cromwell is dead. His son Richard is in his j)hice; but cannot fill it. The Parliament has been convened on the '27th of January 1659; and on the 4th of Febrnary Dr Owen is called to preach before it. It is most interesting to gather the spirit cf the daj' from the scope and cha- racter of this discourse. In the last discourses, complacency in the peace prevail- ing in the country, and jealousy lest unseemly contention should renew the dis- traction and tnrir.oil from which the nation has made its escape, are predoreinant ciiaracteristics. In the discourse that follows, it is easy to mark a spirit of anxiety as to the future developments of Providence. One emphatic sentence lays baj'e the very heart of the nation, heaving and throbbiiig with paini'ul uncer- tainty in regard to the issue of public events : — " We have peace now, outward peace; but, alas ! we have not quietness: and if any thing may be done that may give lis quietness, yet perhaps we may not have assia-ance." The preacher, how- ever, has not abated his confidence in God, — insists upon His presence and aid as the true source of hope to the nation, and of preservation from ruin, — shows that, from tlie multitude of the godly in the land, (rod's presence is still with the na- tion, and rejoices in the belief that they will prove to it " as the ark in the liouse of Obed-edom, as .loseph in the house of Potipliar." Wliatever reasons might exist for the prevailing anxiety, Owen " encouraged liimself in God;" qnd songiit in this di.vcourse to infuse into tlie minds of his hearers his own unshaken stead- fastness of faith.